New 2026 Kia EV5 Review

Can the new Electric Kia Sportage, the EV5 be the best Electric Car ever?

Exterior – Front

Now, the design of the Kia EV5 is similar to all of the other Kia electric SUVs. to start with we get a tiger nose like front end as well as the signature Star Map LED Daytime Running Lights. We also get a light bar too connecting the lights giving it a premium and minimalistic look. We don’t get a fake grill on this one making it look more premium which I like. We also get a decent central air vent and no side vents. The overall design is modern and sensible but also a but unique too which I do like.

Exterior – Side

Moving round to the side of the EV5 and you wouldn’t be able to tell the difference between the EV9 and the EV5. It is basically a smaller EV9. We get the same kick back rear window and floating roof which I like. Its almost as unique as the Hofmeister kink on BMW’s. we also get some flush door handles and some edgy door mirrors. We also get some gloss black wheel arches and sills too and finally some unique wheel options.

Exterior – Rear

Moving round to the back of the Kia EV5 and it may look a bit odd at first because of the taillight positioning because they are quite low down, but it looks very similar to the upcoming Kia K4. These also have the Star Map signature and a sort of light bar. It is very minimalistic and the bumper as a simple and unique design. It does look sporty and like the next generation which I do think suits this car well. Now the boot opening is quite low down which makes it easier to lift items in which is good. Ill get to that a bit later. Right now, though let’s have a look and see what battery and motor options you can have with the new Kia EV5.

Car and engine specs and price

So, for the Kia EV5 range there will be 3 versions to choose from although only one is available at the moment. The first model is the Kia EV5 Long Range model, and this uses a 214 bhp single electric motor mounted on the front giving it front wheel drive. This is mated to an 81.4 kWh battery pack giving it 329 miles of range which isn’t too bad. The 0-62 time is decent enough too at 8.4 seconds. The next version is an all-wheel drive version which will have 2 motors and 261 bhp. this can do 0-62 in 7.3 seconds and uses the 81.4 kWh battery pack, but the official range has not been announced as of yet. The final version is the GT model, and this will have a dual motor setup giving it 302 bhp and a 0-62 time of 6 seconds. Again, this will use the same 81.4 kWh battery pack, but the range is unknown on that model. The price of the Kia EV5 starts at £39,295 which isn’t too bad and is about the same as other rivals. Right, lets have a look and see what the interior is like.

Interior – Design

So, climbing inside the new Kia EV5 and we get an almost BMW Esque interior. To start with we get this 3-screen setup with 2 10.2-inch displays and a smaller 5-inch display all in this one panel. The infotainment system is the latest Kia version, and it does work quite well and is easy to navigate. We also get some very clear instruments too which is nice. The climate control is all on this small 5-inch screen which is in front of the driver which means the passenger has to ask the driver nicely to change anything technical. You do have a few toggle switches in the middle lower down though for simpler stuff. We also get a few shortcut buttons for the radio too. now this dashboard design I do quite like as it has a lot of edges to it giving it a premium feel and cool effect. What also feels premium is the steering wheel with its dual-coloured design making it feel like a Bentley with cheaper materials. We also get a little stalk for your gear selector and start button, but it is hidden out the way unlike the Renault design. The centre console has a floating design giving it a lot of space but also a few more essential buttons and a fingerprint sensor for your user information. Finally, the seats are premium feeling and are comfortable on a decent journey, but I would have liked some better thigh support. Right, lets have a look and see what the rear seats are like.

Practicality

Moving into the back seats and we get a decent amount of legroom and headroom. The seats also don’t sit on the ground like some other cars, so you don’t sit in a squatted position. You also get a flat floor all the way across which means sitting 3 in the back is easier too. I would like some thigh support for the outer seats which is common on electric SUVs at the moment, but we do get a lot of premium materials as well as some air vents and an arm rest and some storage as well as USB C ports and your own rear climate control unit . The rear seat bench can also recline too so you can get in a comfier position. Right, lets have a look and see what the boot space is like.

Boot Size

Opening the boot to the new Kia EV5 and you are welcomed with a 566-litre boot space with the seats up. The boot is also quite wide with cutouts in the side to load wider items in maximising the use of practicality. Folding the seats down and this does increase to 1,650 litres which again is useable, and the rear seats do fold flat. Loading heavy items is easy too because of the low load lip. Up front you also get a 44-litre front boot to store your charging cables in which is very handy too.

Summary

So, in summary then what do I think of the new Kia EV5. Well, essentially it is an electric Kia Sportage. It has decent looks, and the interior does look quite unique. You will also get a decent range to choose from in the future and a performance GT model. Now, would I buy this over the Petrol Sportage. Well, that is a tough question as both are very good cars. If I was going to have to go on the looks, I would have to say Sportage but in terms of the interior that would be the EV5 as well as the powertrain options. I do think it will take time for people to get used to the new Kia design with the blanked off front end, but it is a decent car with a 7-year warranty so it is definitely worth considering.

Exterior 4/5

Interior 4/5

Practicality 5/5

Total 13/15

Model	Kia EV5 GT-Line S Heat Pump
Engine	81.4 kWh Battery Pack, Single Motor, 214bhp, 0-62 = 8.4 Seconds, 329 Mile Range, Front Wheel Drive
Transmission	Single Speed Electric Motor
Price	£48,045
On Sale	Now